BUFFALO, N.Y.: For most people, saliva is something they rarely think about—until it disappears. Yet this seemingly simple fluid plays a vital role in speaking, swallowing, tasting food, protecting teeth, and maintaining oral health. When salivary glands stop working properly, the consequences can be far more serious than just a dry mouth.
Across the world, millions of people struggle with chronic dry mouth, a condition that can make eating difficult, disrupt sleep, accelerate tooth decay, and significantly reduce quality of life. The problem is especially common among patients receiving radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, individuals with autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren’s disease, people taking certain medications, and older adults experiencing age-related decline in gland function.
Now, scientists believe they may be getting closer to understanding something medicine has long struggled to achieve: how damaged salivary glands might repair themselves and potentially regenerate.
New NIH-funded study explores how glands heal
Researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine have launched a new investigation into the biological mechanisms behind salivary gland repair, supported by a two-year $440,275 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
The project is led by Dr. Rose-Anne Romano, PhD, associate professor of oral biology at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, together with Dr. Satrajit Sinha, PhD, professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Their collaborative research focuses on a fundamental scientific question: why salivary glands struggle to regenerate after injury and whether that process can eventually be restored.
“Patients who undergo radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, live with autoimmune conditions such as Sjögren’s disease, take certain medications, or simply experience age-related decline can develop chronic dry mouth that affects eating, swallowing, oral health, sleep, and overall quality of life,” said Dr. Rose-Anne Romano.
A widespread but underrecognized global burden
According to researchers, about 20% of people worldwide experience some degree of salivary gland dysfunction, making it a surprisingly common yet often overlooked medical problem.
“Medication use—especially in older adults—is one of the most widespread contributors,” Dr. Romano explained. “Overall, salivary gland dysfunction represents a significant and often underrecognized global health burden.”
Because saliva plays a crucial role in protecting the mouth from infection, aiding digestion, and maintaining oral tissue health, long-term gland dysfunction can trigger a cascade of dental and systemic health issues.
Unlocking the genetic machinery of regeneration
To understand how glands might recover, the research team is focusing on stem cells and the genetic networks that guide tissue repair.
When organs are injured, stem and progenitor cells often help rebuild damaged structures by multiplying and transforming into specialized cells. However, these processes depend on precise genetic signals turning on and off at the right moment.
“These decisions are controlled by networks of genes and signaling pathways that must turn on and off at the right time,” Dr. Romano said.
In earlier studies, the researchers identified a gene called Six1, which appears to play an important role in maintaining salivary gland identity and supporting regeneration.
Investigating a key gene that may control gland repair
The new study will examine what happens when the Six1 gene is selectively switched off in a mouse model, allowing scientists to determine how essential it is to the gland’s ability to regenerate.
Researchers will also analyze specific cell populations involved in tissue repair, tracking how their behavior and gene activity change during recovery.
“We will examine specific cell populations to see which ones participate in repair, how they change over time and how their gene activity is regulated,” Dr. Romano explained.
The team will also study how the epigenomic landscape of cells shifts during regeneration, providing deeper insights into how the body attempts to rebuild damaged salivary glands.
A step toward future treatments for dry mouth
While the research is still in its early stages, scientists believe the findings could eventually lead to new regenerative therapies designed to restore salivary gland function.
Dr. Sinha noted that the study will also draw insights from other organs where tissue repair mechanisms are better understood.
“We will also draw knowledge insights from other tissues and organs where similar regrowth and repair take place,” he said.
If the research yields promising results, the team hopes to pursue larger multi-year NIH grants to continue the work and validate their discoveries.
“The hope is to generate a clearer and more complete picture of how salivary glands regenerate after injury,” Dr. Romano said. “Ultimately, this knowledge could help us design new treatments to restore salivary gland function in people affected by autoimmune disease, radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, medication side effects and aging.”
For millions living with chronic dry mouth, that future breakthrough could restore something most people take for granted every day—the simple but essential power of saliva.
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